DELME PARFITT asks whether Wales can justifiably claim to be underdogs against England's second string tomorrow.

THE last time Wales players talked up their chances of beating England, they ended up with Lawrence Dallaglio banging on their changing room door and mocking them in the wake of a dreadful Twickenham battering.

It was 1998, 60-26, the scoreboard read and Dallaglio's scornful message, which cannot be reproduced accurately in a family newspaper, came booming through the walls as red jerseys sat shell-shocked.

Ever since, Welsh players have queued up to tell us what world-beaters the men from over the bridge are ahead of the annual meeting - for all the good it's done them.

It's been no different this week. We've had plenty of lavish praise and cliche-ridden predictions of a "very tough task ahead".

Fair enough, you have to conclude. Even with the monstrous first choice Martin Johnson team given the weekend off, there is enough firepower in Clive Woodward's shadow side to suggest they remain a fearsome proposition.

But for once, the Wales players do not have the psychological sanctuary of being massive underdogs to take with them into a game against the old enemy.

It could reasonably be argued that has done them no harm in recent years.

Certainly it didn't in the last match when they pushed a full strength England outfit all the way in a 26-9 Six Nations defeat in Cardiff.

This time though, even though their opponents boast six British Lions and a pack that is awesomely strong to be labelled second string, it will all ring a bit hollow if Welsh players start waxing lyrical about learning curves in the wake of another old enemy reverse.

If Woodward had chosen to unleash the hell of Johnson and company, Wales would already have been written off.

But the England coach's selection has levelled things off considerably.

Captain for the day Stephen Jones was happy to push the boat out yesterday and insist that there is no reason why Wales cannot win.

You bet there isn't. This is as strong a team as Hansen can select at the moment, with four British Lions of its own.

And furthermore, it is a team that is well used to each other, even though there will probably be rustiness after the summer break.

England have class and power to spare, and seven of this team combined to see off the New Zealand Maoris just a few months ago.

But it is they who would still be more justified in using the 'we haven't had a chance to gel' line come the final whistle.

Looking for excuses though is not something anyone from Woodward's camp often has cause to do.

They are used to winning, it has become a habit. Which is why you have to feel that if Wales are to win this match they will have to put significant daylight between themselves and the visitors going in to the later stages.

Clawing in front or pressing home a narrow advantage with minutes to go is an England speciality borne of their ability to go cold whenever a match reaches a nervous fever pitch.

And it's an art Wales are still a mile off mastering.

Hansen spoke earlier this week of public expectation increasing because of the respective line-ups. He was spot on.

If Wales lose to England's reserves, Hansen talking about long term plans and improved squad fitness levels will do little to repair the damage in the eyes of the men and women on the street.

The gamble of selecting a rookie side to take on Ireland's best paid off last weekend because the score was respectable.

But Hansen's big guns are, in many ways, being just as much fed to the Lions. Because anything less than victory tomorrow will be greeted with general disdain by punters already miffed at the strength of the two nations being so brutally exposed before a ball is even kicked.

Wales were shown just how long a road they have to travel in a record defeat to New Zealand this summer. Any sort of beating tomorrow, even by a solitary point would be a similar lesson.

Ieuan Evans is spot on in today's paper to say this is a great chance of a morale booster and to give England an all too rare bloody nose. It must be taken.